The first thing you want to do is make sure you’re okay. Check to see if you’re bleeding, if you have broken bones, or if your neck or back feels impacted. If you are able to get out of the vehicle, you can do so. If not, you want to wait until fire rescue arrives or the police, especially if you feel you may have a neck or back injury. Moving too soon, too quickly, or even just in the wrong way can take a minor fracture and turn it into a much more serious problem that threatens your health and mobility. When emergency personnel arrives, they can ensure that you are moved in a way that doesn’t exacerbate any injuries you might have, and they can provide you that treatment you need. If you are able to get out of the vehicle, you want to begin to document the scene of the accident. You want to take photographs of the damage to your car as well as any other cars involved. Take pictures of the scene, what it looks like, and any mitigating factors that might be present— road hazards, for instance, or maybe a lack of skid marks that would suggest that the other party did not attempt to brake in time. Whatever you see that you think might be relevant to the situation should be recorded. We recommend you do this so that you can start to build up a solid foundation of firsthand evidence. This will prepare you for what happens when you ultimately have to make a claim for your injuries, and it will give you an advantage that you wouldn’t have otherwise.
Now, doing all of this and then seeking medical treatment immediately thereafter does two things. First, it helps you get better. Obviously, your personal health and safety are paramount in any situation, and this situation in particular. Secondly, it begins to document the medical evidence necessary to prove your claim. A doctor’s assessment of your injuries is an invaluable piece of evidence. And to be awarded damages for your medical costs, you’ll need records of your medical bills and the different kinds of treatments you’ve received.
And lastly, you want to call a lawyer, you want to call our office so we can guide you through all the steps necessary for your claim, help you do what’s necessary, and we can ensure that you get the maximum recovery that you deserve. This isn’t a process that you should embark on alone, especially if you’ve been injured in an accident. If it were a simple matter of a no-fault accident in which your insurance company was being fully cooperative, that might be something you could handle without an attorney. But insurance companies don’t always act in good faith, so even the simplest of circumstances could result in the need for an attorney. If you’ve been in a serious accident, with property damage or personal injury involved, contact us, and we can move forward in the way that best suits your needs and addresses your concerns.
